beatrix-第39部分

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had　made　by　pushing　Beatrix　into　the　sea；　did　not　continue　to　urge　it
violently。　But　love　in　young　men　is　so　ecstatic　and　religious　that
their　inmost　desire　is　to　win　its　fruition　through　moral　conviction。
In　that　is　the　sublimity　of　their　love。

Nevertheless　the　day　came　when　the　Breton；　driven　to　desperation；
complained　to　Camille　of　Beatrix's　conduct。

〃I　meant　to　cure　you　by　making　you　quickly　understand　her；〃　replied
Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　〃but　you　have　spoiled　all。　Ten　days　ago　you
were　her　master；　to…day；　my　poor　boy；　you　are　her　slave。　You　will
never　have　the　strength　now　to　do　as　I　advise。〃

〃What　ought　I　to　do？〃

〃Quarrel　with　her　on　the　ground　of　her　hardness。　A　woman　is　always
over…excited　when　she　discusses；　let　her　be　angry　and　ill…treat　you；
and　then　stay　away；　do　not　return　to　Les　Touches　till　she　herself
recalls　you。〃

In　all　extreme　illness　there　is　a　moment　when　the　patient　is　willing
to　accept　the　cruellest　remedy　and　submits　to　the　most　horrible
operation。　Calyste　had　reached　that　point。　He　listened　to　Camille's
advice　and　stayed　at　home　two　whole　days；　but　on　the　third　he　was
scratching　at　Beatrix's　door　to　let　her　know　that　he　and　Camille　were
waiting　breakfast　for　her。

〃Another　chance　lost！〃　Camille　said　to　him　when　she　saw　him　re…appear
so　weakly。

During　his　two　days'　absence；　Beatrix　had　frequently　looked　through
the　window　which　opens　on　the　road　to　Guerande。　When　Camille　found　her
doing　so；　she　talked　of　the　effect　produced　by　the　gorse　along　the
roadway；　the　golden　blooms　of　which　were　dazzling　in　the　September
sunshine。

The　marquise　kept　Camille　and　Calyste　waiting　long　for　breakfast；　and
the　delay　would　have　been　significant　to　any　eyes　but　those　of
Calyste；　for　when　she　did　appear；　her　dress　showed　an　evident
intention　to　fascinate　him　and　prevent　another　absence。　After
breakfast　she　went　to　walk　with　him　in　the　garden　and　filled　his
simple　heart　with　joy　by　expressing　a　wish　to　go　again　to　that　rock
where　she　had　so　nearly　perished。

〃Will　you　go　with　me　alone？〃　asked　Calyste；　in　a　troubled　voice。

〃If　I　refused　to　do　so；〃　she　replied；　〃I　should　give　you　reason　to
suppose　I　thought　you　dangerous。　Alas！　as　I　have　told　you　again　and
again　I　belong　to　another；　and　I　must　be　his　only；　I　chose　him　knowing
nothing　of　love。　The　fault　was　great；　and　bitter　is　my　punishment。〃

When　she　talked　thus；　her　eyes　moist　with　the　scanty　tears　shed　by
that　class　of　woman；　Calyste　was　filled　with　a　compassion　that　reduced
his　fiery　ardor；　he　adored　her　then　as　he　did　a　Madonna。　We　have　no
more　right　to　require　different　characters　to　be　alike　in　the
expression　of　feelings　than　we　have　to　expect　the　same　fruits　from
different　trees。　Beatrix　was　at　this　moment　undergoing　an　inward
struggle；　she　hesitated　between　herself　and　Calyste；between　the
world　she　still　hoped　to　re…enter；　and　the　young　happiness　offered　to
her；　between　a　second　and　an　unpardonable　love；　and　social
rehabilitation。　She　began；　therefore；　to　listen；　without　even　acted
displeasure；　to　the　talk　of　the　youth's　blind　passion；　she　allowed　his
soft　pity　to　soothe　her。　Several　times　she　had　been　moved　to　tears　as
she　listened　to　Calyste's　promises；　and　she　suffered　him　to
commiserate　her　for　being　bound　to　an　evil　genius；　a　man　as　false　as
Conti。　More　than　once　she　related　to　him　the　misery　and　anguish　she
had　gone　through　in　Italy；　when　she　first　became　aware　that　she　was
not　alone　in　Conti's　heart。　On　this　subject　Camille　had　fully　informed
Calyste　and　given　him　several　lectures　on　it；　by　which　he　profited。

〃I；〃　he　said；　〃will　love　you　only；　you　absolutely。　I　have　no　triumphs
of　art；　no　applause　of　crowds　stirred　by　my　genius　to　offer　you；　my
only　talent　is　to　love　you；　my　honor；　my　pride　are　in　your
perfections。　No　other　woman　can　have　merit　in　my　eyes；　you　have　no
odious　rivalry　to　fear。　You　are　misconceived　and　wronged；　but　I　know
you；　and　for　every　misconception；　for　every　wrong；　I　will　make　you
feel　my　comprehension　day　by　day。〃

She　listened　to　such　speeches　with　bowed　head；　allowing　him　to　kiss
her　hands；　and　admitting　silently　but　gracefully　that　she　was　indeed
an　angel　misunderstood。

〃I　am　too　humiliated；〃　she　would　say；　〃my　past　has　robbed　the　future
of　all　security。〃

It　was　a　glorious　day　for　Calyste　when；　arriving　at　Les　Touches　at
seven　in　the　morning；　he　saw　from　afar　Beatrix　at　a　window　watching
for　him；　and　wearing　the　same　straw　hat　she　had　worn　on　the　memorable
day　of　their　first　excursion。　For　a　moment　he　was　dazzled　and　giddy。
These　little　things　of　passion　magnify　the　world　itself。　It　may　be
that　only　Frenchwomen　possess　the　art　of　such　scenic　effects；　they　owe
it　to　the　grace　of　their　minds；　they　know　how　to　put　into　sentiment　as
much　of　the　picturesque　as　the　particular　sentiment　can　bear　without　a
loss　of　vigor　or　of　force。

Ah！　how　lightly　she　rested　on　Calyste's　arm！　Together　they　left　Les
Touches　by　the　garden…gate　which　opens　on　the　dunes。　Beatrix　thought
the　sands　delightful；　she　spied　the　hardy　little　plants　with　rose…
colored　flowers　that　grew　there；　and　she　gathered　a　quantity　to　mix
with　the　Chartreux　pansies　which　also　grow　in　that　arid　desert；
dividing　them　significantly　with　Calyste；　to　whom　those　flowers　and
their　foliage　were　to　be　henceforth　an　eternal　and　dreadful　relic。

〃We'll　add　a　bit　of　box；〃　she　said　smiling。

They　sat　some　time　together　on　the　jetty；　and　Calyste；　while　waiting
for　the　boat　to　come　over；　told　her　of　his　juvenile　act　on　the　day　of
her　arrival。

〃I　knew　of　your　little　escapade；〃　she　said；　〃and　it　was　the　cause　of
my　sternness　to　you　that　first　night。〃

During　their　walk　Madame　de　Rochefide　had　the　lightly　jesting　tone　of
a　woman　who　loves；　together　with　a　certain　tenderness　and　abandonment
of　manner。　Calyste　had　reason　to　think　himself　beloved。　But　when；
wandering　along　the　shore　beneath　the　rocks；　they　came　upon　one　of
those　charming　creeks　where　the　waves　deposit　the　most　extraordinary
mosaic　of　brilliant　pebbles；　and　they　played　there　like　children
gathering　the　prettiest；　when　Calyste　at　the　summit　of　happiness　asked
her　plainly　to　fly　with　him　to　Ireland；　she　resumed　her　dignified　and
distant　air；　asked　for　his　arm；　and　continued　their　walk　in　silence　to
what　she　called　her　Tarpeian　rock。

〃My　friend；〃　she　said；　mounting　with　slow　steps　the　magnificent　block
of　granite　of　which　she　was　making　for　herself　a　pedestal；　〃I　have　not
the　courage　to　conceal　what　you　are　to　me。　For　ten　years　I　have　had　no
happiness　comparable　to　that　which　we　have　just　enjoyed　together；
searching　for　shells　among　those　rocks；　exchanging　pebbles　of　which　I
shall　make　a　necklace　more　precious　far　to　me　than　if　it　were　made　of
the　finest　diamonds。　I　have　been　once　more　a　little　girl；　a　child；
such　as　I　was　at　fourteen　or　sixteenwhen　I　was　worthy　of　you。　The
love　I　have　had　the　happiness　to　inspire　in　your　heart　has　raised　me
in　my　own　eyes。　Understand　these　words　to　their　magical　extent。　You
have　made　me　the　proudest　and　happiest　of　my　sex；　and　you　will　live
longer　in　my　remembrance；　perhaps；　than　I　in　yours。〃

At　this　moment　they　reached　the　summit　of　the　rock；　whence　they　saw
the　vast　ocean　on　one　side　and　Brittany　on　the　other；　with　its　golden
isles；　its　feudal　towers；　and　its　gorse。　Never　did　any　woman　stand　on
a　finer　scene　to　make　a　great　avowal。

〃But；〃　she　continued；　〃I　do　not　belong　to　myself；　I　am　more　bound　by
my　own　will　than　I　was　by　the　law。　You　must　be　punished　for　my
misdeed；　but　be　satisfied　to　know　that　we　suffer　together。　Dante　never
saw　his　Beatrice　again；　Petrarch　never　possessed　his　Laura。　Such
disasters　fall　on　none　but　noble　souls。　But；　if　I　should　be　abandoned；
if　I　fall　lower　yet　into　shame　and　ignominy；　if　your　Beatrix　is
cruelly　misjudged　by　the　world　she　loathes；　if　indeed　she　is　the
lowest　of　women；then；　my　child；　my　adored　child；〃　she　said；　taking
his　hand；　〃to　you　she　will　still　be　first　of　all；　you　will　know　that
she　rises　to　heaven　as　she　leans　on　you；　but　then；　my　friend；〃　she
added；　giving　him　an　intoxicating　look；　〃then　if　you　wish　to　cast　her
down　do　not　fail　of　your　blow；　after　your　love；　death！〃

Calyste　clasped　her　round　the　waist　and　pressed　her　to　his　heart。　As
if　to　confirm　her　words　Madame　de　Rochefide　laid　a　tender；　timid　kiss
upon　his　brow。　When　they　turned　and　walked　slowly　back；　talking
together　like　those　who　have　a　perfect　comprehension　of　each　other；
she；　thinking　she　had　gained　a　truce；　he　not　doubting　of　his
happiness；　and　both　deceived。　Calyste；　from　what　Camille　had　told　him；
was　confident　that　Conti　would　be　enchanted　to　find　an　opportunity　to
part　from　Beatrix；　Beatrix；　yielding　herself　up　to　the　vagueness　of
her　position；　looked　to　chance　to　arrange　the　future。

They　reached　Les　Touches　in　the　most　delightful　of　all　states　of　mind；
entering　by　the　garden　gate；　the　key　of　which　Calyste　had　taken　with
him。　It　was　nearly　six　o'clock。　The　luscious　odors；　the　warm
atmosphere；　the　burnished　rays　of　the　evening　sun　were　all　in　harmony
with　their　feelings　and　their　tender　talk。　Their　steps　were　taken　in
unison；the　gait　of　all　lovers；their　movements　told　of　the　union　of
their　thoughts。　The　silence　that　reigned　about　Les　Touches　was　so
profound　that　the　noise　which　Calyste　made　in　opening　and　shutting　the
gate　must　have　echoed　through　the　garden。　As　the　two　had　said　all　to
each　other　that　could　be　said；　and　as　their　day's　excursion；　so　filled
with　emotion；　had　physically　tired　them；　they　walked　slowly；　saying
nothing。

Suddenly；　at　the　turn　of　a　path；　Beatrix　was　seized　with　a　horrible
trembling；　with　that　contagious　horror　which　is　caused　by　the　sight　of
a　snake；　and　which　Calyste　felt　before　he　saw　the　cause　of　it。　On　a
bench；　beneath　the　branches　of　a　weeping　ash；　sat　Conti；　talking　with
Camille　Maupin。



XV

CONTI

The　inward　and　convulsive　trembling　of　the　marquise　was　more　apparent
than　she　wished　it　to　be；　a　tragic　drama　developed　at　that　moment　in
the　souls　of　all　present。

〃You　did　not　expect　me　so　soon；　I　fancy；〃　said　Conti；　offering　his　arm
to　Beatrix。

The　marquise　could　not　avoid　dropping　Calyste's　arm　and　taking　that　of
Conti。　This　ignoble　transit；　imperiously　dema